Paul Kenneth Conn's Obituary
CONN, Paul Kenneth, Lifelong Tucson resident, passed away November 23rd, 2012 at age 85. He was in Cameron Park, CA, for Thanksgiving with his daughter and son and their families. Paul was born July 16, 1927, in the Menlo Park area of Tucson to Kenneth and Mary Conn. He attended Tucson High School where he met his sweetheart and wife of 31 years, Daisy Gillespie. Paul and friend, Arnold Hiteshew, worked at McDonald Douglas riveting airplanes, and then served in the Army Air Corps near the end of World War II. Paul studied engineering at the University of Arizona. He served an electrical apprenticeship on the Southern Pacific Railroad and then obtained plumbing, electrical, and general contracting licenses. He ran his own contracting business for 30 years. After retirement Paul had more time to further pursue his lifelong interest in flying. He obtained an aircraft and power plant certification and rebuilt several antique airplanes with his good friend, George Koch. His Fairchild 24W won the Grand Championship at the 2003 Cactus Fly-in. Travelling home from the Fly-in, Paul's plane crashed but Paul rebuilt the airplane and the following year won the Outstanding Customized Aircraft Award at Oshkosh. Paul then built an RV7/A and loved flying with his friends (sometimes in formation) to airports around the state on Saturday mornings. Paul touched many lives and will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by wife Daisy, and is survived by siblings, Ellen Kanitz of Bellpre, OH, Patty Fish of Whittier, CA, Evaline Spragg of La Puente, CA and Michael Conn of Tucson; daughter, Michelle Howard of Cameron Park, CA; son Jeff of Fairbanks, AK; grandchildren Crystal and Robert Howard of Roseville and Citrus Heights, CA, Paul Conn of Seattle, WA, Rachel Conn of Helena MT, and Ben Conn of Fairbanks, AK; great grandchildren Alison Conn and Tyler Howard Pegos and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and amazing friends. A service for Paul will be held at EVERGREEN MORTUARY, N. Oracle & W. Miracle Mile on Saturday, December 1st at 10:00 A.M.
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